![Kindergarten teacher Amanda Lynch walks with Ismael and Rachel Colon, and their daughter Brieanna, 3, after they dropped off their son for his first day of third grade at Linden Elementary School in Plainville, Conn.]()
By TAYLOR HARTZ STAFF WRITER Pencils were sharpened, lunches were packed, and Plainville students were off to their bus stops on Monday for the start of the new school year. “We’re off to a great start,” said Jeffrey Kitching, superintendent of Plainville Community Schools. “All of our buses unloaded on time today,” said Kitching of a smooth first morning, “and all the reports from our principals are that the kids are excited and the teachers are excited.” At Linden Elementary School, hundreds of colorful backpacks and back-to-school sneakers lined the blacktop, as students stood single file behind signs labeled for their new classrooms. Parents waved goodbye from the playground and held the hands of nervous little ones, as teachers introduced themselves and reassured the younger students that their first day back to school was going to be great. Christine Mazzarella, a first-grade teacher from Guilford, said she was excited to begin her sixth year of teaching at Linden. “I’m looking forward to getting to know each of the kids,” said Mazzarella. Paul Giannini, a four-year crossing guard at Linden, welcomed each student with a smile as he helped them cross the street toward the school. Giannini said he loves to […]